If you've known me for literally less than 5 minutes you'll know two things, one, that I am a cryptid in human skin with passable art skills, and two that I have so many characters my muse pinballs between them faster than someone going for a world record, sometimes at random, sometimes with a pattern, sometimes for unexplainable reasons. Anyways!

I need stuff to do. This is my last week out till I move into college housing and it's shaping up to be one that will be long and monotonous, so I want to break that up with some good old roleplay (which means I'm in the right place). As my muse has, yet again, shifted inexplicably, these are the characters I've got up on the block today. Both of them are generally light-sided which is... Co-incidence, I promise.

Irella Toldreyn, someone whom I have no idea where to go with, really-- The sum of her interactions has been with angry Vizslas & it's actually fun to have her bounce off characters like that so take that as you will --Her backstory isn't necessarily written on her bio but it's summed up by; Coruscanti native, came to Nar Shaddaa as a relative-child, trained at a Jedi Praxeum there but refused to join the Exchange when it dissolved into that, and is basically homeless. Eternally homeless. Also a healer, and equivalent to an advanced Padawan. Her main dev comes from being hypocritical (Which leads to spirited dialogue) and being way too friendly, as well as having Synesthesia & managing that in an upside-down galaxy. Generally works best forced together with people she has conflicting values with so she has to see their side and make friends, and has a history of meeting up with non-ME Mandos so there's a place to start!

Ayessa Kroan, my time-travelling Jedi. Hangs out quite a bit with Nej Tane (So don't be shocked if there's a tag-along) and is a wanderer looking for new purpose, or jobs, whatever works? Unlike Irella she still sees herself as a 'Jedi' still but isn't very interested in hooking up with orders due to her disillusion; she works well with fellow Jedi characters due to the compare/contrast that comes with a TCW-era Knight interacting with a Chaos-era Knight. Willing to do all sorts of stuff with her to drive development 'cause she really needs it, I feel, and my muse for her is hiiiiigh.

Really looking to write with writers I haven't written with before too, so, uh, bring out yer' dead.

...If you don't remember me, hi. I'm a ghost. Sort of. I kind of died? It's a long personal story but I'm finally free from these chains of love. Anyways -- I did nice art sometimes and some nice writings sometimes a few months ago 'round here. That's sort of all there was to me. But apparently one does not simply leave this forum, so much like a dormant anime or the Spice Girls I'm here for my comeback tour.

Not true angels, of course, stylized, petrified ones. All around her, Sovereignty workers moved, various hovering carts filled with unspeakable treasures and resources pushed and pulled throughout the palace. Things had gone well with their domination of Kessel, the planet was now squarely a vassal of the Sovereignty. The Royal Family was disposed, their numbers and supporters scattered, and the spice mines firmly under the control of her government.

Then why did it feel as though they had forgotten something? Neglected a fact?

The throne had already been removed, probably to be liquidated or sold at auction to a collector. So now it was just an empty dais, with two angelic statues, each one reaching for the rays of sun that trickled in through high-vaulted windows. The glass looked to be as thin as lace, crystal surfaces refracting the glow around the room expertly. Sekhmet's tail swished impatiently in the air, her hands in fists and on her hips as she stood square, thinking.

Technically, she was here awaiting the arrival of the Lord Admiral. She'd drawn the short straw, and was to inform him of AECO performance during the coup and to also report on the progress of dismantling the lavish castle to better meet Sovereignty standards. But, still, curiosity killed the cat, didn't it? And there was something tipping off her gut that led her to think there was more to this room-- And those statues, in particular --than met the eye.

"You," Her gold eyes flicked over to a worker passing by with a rather hefty set of tools on his cart, "Leave that here. Has anyone else tried removing the angels?"

The timid worker glanced up and nodded eagerly to the Saorsa as he left his cart near the steps up, regarding her with an interested expression, "No, ma'am. We don't have a feasible way of getting them out without damaging the structure."

Intent: To provide the Kessel Royal Family with a palace; to serve as a landmark on the planet Kessel that will be critical to Sovereignty operations in the area; to flesh out some of the new lore that's been written into canon surrounding Kessel & give it some well-needed and well-deserved TLC.

Accessibility: The castle is nestled among the almost oasis-like locale of the southern provinces of Kessel, built into and around a valley's sheer cliffs. As a result, it's easily defended and hard to reach without proper clearance or knowledge. Closed to the public, it's only open to members of the Royal Family & their associates.

Security: Defended by a privately-funded sect of the Kessel military, the castle houses what amounts to a private military company within its walls, who are sworn-- and, paid handsomely --to protect the Royal Family and their riches at all cost. The castle itself doesn't have anything as improper as gun emplacements or AA weapons, but the constant garrison is enough to ensure that security is extremely tight.

Description: One of the most striking features of the Royal Palace is that it relies heavily on the landscape around it and that it uses water liberally as a decoration. Not naturally occurring water, mind you -- The Royals can afford to pump vast amounts of it into their valley to make beautiful artificial waterfalls that come from valves built into the walls. One should expect to receive a fine misting whenever you are invited to attend the palace, and one should wear especially grippy shoes. The stonework and tiles are always somewhat damp from the water overflow, which can lead to slippery conditions. Built of stone and reinforced with a durasteel 'skeleton', the original architects of the palace used things like transparisteel windows and lead-lined doors to provide as much protection as possible against attack for both residents and potentially inflammatory visitors.

POINTS OF INTEREST

The Throne Room: Located in the centre of the palace, Kessel's throne room is a combination of tropical paradise and lap of luxury. The throne was constructed to mimic a peacock, which is an invasive species to Kessel. The windows offer spectacular views of the terraformed, lush valley that surrounds the palace. Flanking the throne are stylized statues of two Diathim, who were said to be lovers of an old Kesselian king, speculated to be King Keldor, who first used the palace officially. The statues are considered to be out of taste these days especially due to the connotations they bring, but they harbour a secret that secures their safety; within the statues themselves (Which are hollow and lined with neuranium) are two large caches of impervium hoarded by the Royal Family over generations, moved there following the addition of the statues. The cache extends a few miles underground, and it would take serious excavation to remove it all. It's quite the nest egg for those clever enough to find it...

Sunward Landing Pad: Built into the top of the castle, near where the valley meets the stonework, is a rather secret landing pad used exclusively by the Royal Family. Hangers are carved directly into the rock and store spice laundered through the Royals alongside swift transports in the event evacuation from the palace is required. It also offers stunning views of the valley, for those not interested in the criminal side of things.

The Vault: The name of this particular wing of the palace is wholly misleading, as the Vault is, in fact, a library. It's said to harbour many secrets in the form of actual books instead of data caches or servers, dating through Kessel's history on topics covering information some scholars would kill to know. This is also where records of all the Royal Family's spice dealings are kept, on paper instead of on digital files as to ensure that they are protected from electronic infiltration.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Originally, the Kessel Royal Family turned a blind eye to slavery. They didn't endorse it, but neither did they condemn it. And this blind apathy continued throughout the reign of the Galactic Empire and the New Republic and into whatever bleakness followed these ancient empires.

During the 400 year darkness, things changed.

Kessel had been ravaged by the Gulag plague and had only begun to barely recover as the planet quarantined itself and stockpiled resources. Once it was determined safe to reopen borders, trade and communication in 726ABY, the spice mines resumed their terrible toil, and this time the family capitalized on the wealth it brought. For they had known the hardships and poverty that the darkness had brought to their way of life and had a fierce desire to stay as far away from that as possible. History would not repeat itself on Kessel.

This is how the palace came to be. It was born out of blind passion to escape any semblance of an impoverished living, to wipe away the state of decay that the plague birthed onto Kessel. This began what some might consider a golden age, and what others might call the Netherworld incarnate. With the mines working overtime to produce the valuable spice, The Royal Palace of Kessel was constructed by Queen Hana Kess, with the building commencing in 727ABY directly after Kessel's government officially reopened. It required extensive overhauls to the landscape in order to accommodate the Queen's desires for a fantastical atmosphere of decadence and vice.

Built on the backs of slaves and financed by the spice they brought, the palace took over 10 years to finish construction to the Queen's liking. By that time her son was preparing to take power, having come to the age where Kesselian princes and princesses become regents. King-Regent Keldor Kess was crowned in the throne room of the Royal Palace in 737ABY, marking the usage of the palace as an official place of state affairs.

Over a hundred years later and the Royal Family is still going strong and their palace is as well, having embraced their role as slavers and miners wholeheartedly and enjoying all the riches such trades brought. Unfortunately for these degenerates, a wrench was thrown into things -- The Sovereignty approached the family seeking to make an agreement for control of the planet in exchange for protection. One of the clauses in this agreement was the immediate end to any and all slaving being conducted planetside, which was egregiously unacceptable to the current monarch. It was eventually decided that such decisions could be made without the Royal Family in the picture, and the Sovereignty staged a coup; taking the Palace for themselves, and all the riches within. With the former-ruling family of Kess scattered to the wind and a new monarch to be named to Kessel as a ruler of the new Sovereign vassal, the palace sits empty, awaiting new residences to grace it's hallowed and gilded halls.

Intent: To continue to populate Wild Space with interesting and compelling planets ripe for exploration; to provide a homeworld for my species the Fanaa; to, once again, give the Sovereignty a new location for roleplay & to serve as a place for conflict to occur.

System Features: The Pajaro System, whilst also being home to La'ra, also features a rather sizeable asteroid field just outside the planet's sphere of influence. Within the field are many Clone Wars era wrecks, ancient Confederacy starship remains to be specific. It's believed that a navigational failure led to a small fleet exiting hyperspace at an unfortunate location. The local Fanaa refer to this area of space as the Wild Graveyard.

Paxaro: La'ra's capital is a shining canyon metropolis named Paxaro. Constructed in a massive valley, many of the actual buildings perch on the inner walls of the canyon like bats, essentially lining the stone. Various walkways and passages connect the two halves of the city, and many buildings are still built above ground. There are many open balconies and sheer drops in Paxaro and this is because their builders share close connections with open air.

The Hall Of Glass: A massive landmark within the capital Paxaro, The Hall Of Glass is the main administrative building on La'ra. The Clywdo, the planet's leaders, gather here for meetings and discussion, but it serves a dual function -- The Hall Of Glass is also the planet's most prestigious art gallery and performance hub. On any given day you may hear choir practice mixing in with litigious discussions. Many consider The Hall Of Glass an essential destination to visit whilst on La'ra.

'The Old Bones': A little outside of Paxaro itself, is what was once the Fanaa's military headquarters, where the Clywdo would orchestrate rebel efforts during the ancient Galactic Civil War. The building has since been abandoned. It is referred to as 'The Old Bones' by the various underworld elements who occupy it now, using it as a stash house and a meeting ground. Many of the locals know to stay away, both due to the risk of visiting, and the general negative connotations such a place has in Fanaa culture.

The Elatra Institute: Considered one of the most prestigious schools on the entire planet, the Elatra Institute is a top-ranked school of art, dance, and song. Those trained at the Elatra Institute are said to be experts in their fields, and entrance is highly restricted to only the most talented of Fanaa. The Institute has yet to admit an alien student, citing that none have yet to meet the criteria for entrance.

The Golden Wastes: A section of La'ra's exotic landscape is dominated by a large swathe of desert called the Golden Wastes. The Wastes are home to many fierce creatures, and most adventure-minded Fanaa know to stay away. However, those seeking riches within will be rewarded -- Within the canyons and caves of the Wastes are deposits of gold, and this is where the desert gets its name.

Vuxlan Prison: 'Vuxlan', in Faan, means 'Hopeless'. This is an apt name for the planetary prison located in the heart of the Golden Wastes, only accessible by shuttle unless you come prepared for a week-long trek in a monster-infested desert. Those who seek to undermine the Fanaa's peaceful culture through acts of terrorism are imprisoned here, and escape is futile. Seeing as Vuxlan is in the center of a massive desert, without water, any escapees will die of dehydration before they get anywhere. Inmates of Vuxlan that are fit enough to work are usually conscripted out to work the gold mines in the Wastes' caverns.

Demographics: The planet is dominated by the native Fanaa species, though especially as of late immigrants of all alien species-- Including Humans --have begun to come to La'ra. As it stands, 90% of the planetary population remains firmly Fanaa, whilst 10% is 'alien'. That 10% is a blend of typical large-population species, such as Humans, Twi'leks, Togruta, etc.

Primary Languages: Faan, Basic

Culture:

May This Not Be Our Swan Song:
Music and avian wildlife play large parts of La'ra's cultural makeup. As the native Fanaa can produce musical noise akin to birds the cities are alive with such noise, which blends beautifully with the natural bird populations they strive to breed and preserve as best as possible. Cities are often fitted with art installations that also function as bird feeders, allowing locals to enjoy and take in the natural beauty of La'raan birds. Those who work in preserving the natural species of La'ra & those who research/study them are highly regarded among the population.

We Will Not Say War:
After the first Galactic Civil War, the Fanaa chose to shy away from warrior and violent tendencies. Weapons are heavily frowned upon in their culture unless absolutely necessary, preferring to use words to settle conflicts. As they are also entirely demilitarized, they are vulnerable to both attack and exploitation. Only in institutions such as prisons are weapons acceptable, and even then, barely.

Brighter Than The Sun:
With the planet's vast gold deposits, came an age of covering every conceivable surface in the material. Gold is very precious to La'ra natives, primarily the Fanaa, who are biologically drawn to the material and anything really that is highly reflective or shiny. Thus, it's a primary material used for embellishment and decoration, and they are hesitant to export it to unfamiliar populations due to their tendency to hoard it.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Government: La'ra is governed by a republic power base of high-ranked leaders called Clywdo. Clywdos are elected to their roles and represent various districts across the planet, congregating in Paxaro's Hall of Glass to discuss political affairs. Clywdos have a term limit of 16 years and go up for re-election every 8 years, so elections are usually a big deal planet-wide so that representation can be ideal.

Affiliation: La'ra is located in a hex owned by The Sovereignty, but they have not yet made contact with the heavily-military-oriented faction, but the Fanaa are acutely aware of the warmongers in their space. They still owe loyalty only to themselves unless appropriate contact and a resolution between the two groups is made.

Wealth: High -- The Fanaa have no desire or need to spend anything on the military, instead choosing to fund their culture and cities instead. It also helps that the Fanaa have ample stores of precious gold on their planet. Thusly, one could consider the planet overall as 'wealthy' -- One doesn't exactly see poverty or neglect among the citizens, with everyone leading idealized lives.

Stability: Medium -- Outsiders are not exactly welcomed by the Fanaa, but they are tolerated as guests. With the advent of the Sovereignty in La'ra's space, tensions have begun to rise as the people worry about what such a violent force could bring to their planet, as nobody has a desire to return to a time to chaos and warfare.

Freedom & Oppression: Violence and weapons are outright illegal without certain documentation and permits, making La'ra an unpopular destination for criminal-types. Being caught with a weapon that is unlicensed and undocumented can lead to sentencing in Vuxlan Prison, and most don't bother to chance it. The average citizen of La'ra is relatively free, though; unless you're seeking to pursue a life of violence, you're free to make your choices.

MILITARY & TECHNOLOGY

Military: Fanaa used to have a standing military and navy, but that was over 800 years ago. Such institutions have been abolished by the government, and now there's nothing standing between the Fanaa and potential enemies except their diplomatic skills.

Technology: La'ra's people reverse-engineered important technology such as hyperdrives from an ancient crashed Confederacy vessel on their world, which opened the gates to a technological boom. The Fanna have managed to relatively 'catch up' to the rest of the Galaxy, though the planet still primarily imports outside technology to supplement their own -- Things like the unique assistant droid they've developed, however, are their own designs.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

La'ra has had quite the history.

A normally small and nondescript planet, it offered more to its native species, the Fanaa, than anyone else. The Fanaa flourished on their beloved homeworld, mining it's gold and building their cities in the planet's sweeping valleys and peaked mountains. Under the guidance of the Clywdo, their planet and government and society found structure, with a relatively strong and respectable military presence back in these days. It would be during the times of great technological advancement that the Fanaa would first experience a meeting with extraterrestrial beings -- During the Clone Wars, a small Confederacy fleet would experience a cataclysmic navigational failure and exit hyperspace right into the asteroid field near La'ra. Needless to say, the fleet was shredded, one of the cruisers being slingshot into La'ra's gravitational pull and sucked down to the planet below. Reports of the event described it as almost religious, many claiming it to be a god descending from the sky instead of a piece of foreign technology. Government salvage crews would recover many things from the broken craft, such as the remains of a captured Republic astromech droid, the cruiser's hyperdrive, and other pieces of key technology that would be reverse-engineered and used as templates and inspiration for all Fanaa space-fairing technology moving forward.

This discovery would be the catalyst that soon drove the Fanaa into their first proper intergalactic war -- The Galactic Civil War. Siding with the Rebellion during the conflict, the Fanaa would do their best to support their allies against the oppressive Empire, who posed a great threat to their way of life. However, the war took its toll on both the planet and its people, as Rebels took refuge there and brought their problems onto Fanaa turf. Discontentment would begin to grow and by the end of the war and the final conflict with the Imperial Remnant, the Fanaa fleet would abandon their allies during the confusion at the battle of Jakku and declared themselves independent from the rising New Republic. With their wishes respected, La'ra regained her independence and began to fall back into relative obscurity.

Things would progress rather smoothly even through the Gulag plague crisis, the 400 Year Darkness and even the Netherworld incident. The Fanaa people languished in their lowkey existence, able to live lavish and ridiculous lifestyles after the military and navy were dismantled in favour of pacifism instead. Except, as much as they may wish otherwise, the wider galaxy's machinations kept moving onwards. The Sovereignty would enter Fanaa space seeking to start their own intergalactic nation and government, with a heavy focus on militarization and combat. Now the Fanaa are in the midst of a crisis -- All they have known is peace for half a millenia. La'ra has been transformed into a haven of tropical delights and they hardly have any ships left worthy of space combat and their weapons are spread thin. They aren't prepared for war if it comes to that, but also don't want to quietly submit to a government of warfare. It appears this planet and her people are at a crossroads and, eventually, a side must be chosen.